Awning blind



H. RUSCHER AWNING BLIND Original Filed Deb. 4, 1935 s Sheets$heet 1lullllllilllllllnllulllu llllllllllllllllllllIllnu BY I ATTDRNEY Aug.'1, 1939.

H. RUSC HER 2,168,046 AWNING BLIND- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec.4, 1935 I XBY (c v 'ATTORNEY Aug. .1, 1939. H. RUSCHER I AWNING BLINDOriginal Filed Dec. 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I i; BY %IVENTOR ATTORN Ymore or less parallel transverse disposition, and

Patented Aug, 1, 1939 UN STATES AWNING nu'nn Harold Ruscher, MountVernon, N. Y.

Application December 4, 1935, Serial No. 52,745 Renewed December 28,1938 20 Claims. (01. 189-55) This invention relates to devices ,of thenature of blinds and shutters, especially to blinds and the likecharacterized by a multileaf structure,

and more particularly to a blind of the general- .type commonly known asa Venetian blind, in

which the leaves are supported in spaced relation upon flexible cablesor tapes and may be tilted from a closed position, in whichtheir marginsoverlap tightly, to any of several positions in which the leaves may beselectively arranged in thereforeare less obstructive to light and air,in proportion to their approach to a spaced parallel plane relation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a blindstructure comprising a set of tilting leaves or slats made wholly or inpart of metal or other non-inflammable material, as for exampleBakelite, Formica, shatter-proof glass, etc.', the leaves having theirlongitudinal margins adapted to interlock when overlapped,

so that the faces of the blind may be respectively continuous from topto bottom when in the ex tended position of the device.

Another object of the invention is to'provide' which region the blind ismaintained at a distance from the window sill, so that the device willserve as an awning possessing v-unusual strength and fireproofcharacteristics, by reason of its component material.

A cognate object of the invention is to provide flexible connecting andoperating cables by which the metal leaves of which the awning isconstituted may be raised to a collapsed overhead position by simpledraft upon the appropriate cables, and will be nested there under asuitable canopy, without requiring for the operation a degree of skillor training other than that which may be reasonably expected froma shopassistant or household servant of average perience.

A further object is to so organize the interlocking leaves and theirsupporting cables that the simple release of the appropriate cables isfollowed by theautomatic descent of the leaves and their supportingframe, (which may be of substantially conventional awning-frame struc-.

ture) to an extended position in which the adjoining margins of the leafcomponents assume self-engaged interlocking positions without directiveeffort on the part of the operator.

Still another object is to provide such an arrangement of the leaves andtheir supporting mentality and exand actuating cables that when theblind components have thus descended into their interengaged assembledposition, the entire assembly may be swung bodily around its support tobring the free end inward against an.

upright wall. or other structural abutment, and means are provided tosecure thedevice there, in position to act as a fireproof metal shutteror closure for the window, door or other opening, being alsosubstantially weatherproof, verminproof, windproof and preventingunauthorized access to the building so protected.

Among other objects is the provision of a novel combination of lockingand unlocking cables, these being of such structure, and equipped withsuch attachments, that when the leaves of the structure are in theirinterlocking awning position an operator can by simple draft upon theappropriate cables unlock-the leaf margins, and then tilt all of theleaves simultaneously, and in a unitary'operation, to relatively openpositions in which access will be given to desirable circulation of air,and to entry of light, as for example to light a store window, or adwelling room or oflice, while the device excludes unduly strongcurrents of air or undesirable heat rays, etc.

It is also an object of the invention to form the component elements ofthe entire improved,

blind or shutter out of non-inflammable material,

including not only the slats and their framework,

but also the operating cables, so that there is a. complete eliminationof fire-hazard, and more particularly of that form of fire risk due tothe practice of throwing unextinguished matches, lighted butts ofcigarettes, etc. out. of windows,

which is a frequent source of fires and has led to condemnation by thefire-underwriters of awnings made of inflammable m'aterials.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of theparticular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the inventionpro-' gresses, and the novel features will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physicalembodiment selected to illustrate the invention, reference will be hadto the accompanying drawings and the several views thereon, in whichlike characters of reference in course of operation; Fig. 4 is a similarview to Fig. 1, but showing leaf components unlocked and tilted torelative positions in which they occupy-spaced, approximately parallelplanes and afford spaces for the passage of light and air to theprotected building aperture; Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section, takenon the medial, vertical plane of Fig. 2, but showing the components ofthe device retracted to a position above the window and coveredby theprotective canopy there componentleaves; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detailview in vertical section, taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 6,the-arrows'at the ends of the line indicating the direction in which theview is taken.

In the now-preferred embodiment of the invention selected forillustration and description, the elements designated respectively bythe reference characters ll, l2, I3, I4 and it are leaf components of ablind or shutter structure, and while five are-shown, any other suitablenumber either more or less, may be organized to operate in. theembodiment of the idea of means herein disclosed. and the size andrelative proportions of these leaf components are also susceptible ofconsiderable variation, as well as their structural details.

In pursuance of the invention; these leaves are designed to be assembledwith their contiguous transverse flanged edges l6, l1 arranged ininterlocking engagement at times, and are so mable sheet material, eachof the leaves illus-- illustrated in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and2, while Fig. 8 shows, on a larger scale, a particular physicalembodiment of the means by which the interlocking action may desirablybe carried into effect. The leaf component selected as typical is thatnumbered l2, and it may be regarded as representing exactly thestructure of any of the leaves in this, or any similar embodiment of theinvention, other than the end leaf to be described hereinafter.

In accordance with one of the most important objects of the'invention, Iprefer to provide, as

already mentioned, an all-metal structure or a structure made entirelyof non-inflammable material for the sake of insuring a completelyflreproof characteristic for this device, and this may be mostconveniently realized in the multileaf structure by making each leaf outof sheet metal, for example sheet steel, or other non-inflamtrated beingmade from an integral blank of that material in the instance shown, forconvenience and economy in fabrication as well as for strength.

For a similar reason and to promote standardization of these importantparts, each leaf what may be termed an upper flange IS, and

a lower flange l1, bent symmetrically in oppo-. sitedirections from thebody l2 of the leaf, with respect to the plane of which body the flangesstand respectively at an angle of somewhat less than 90 degrees, sayfrom parallel relation to 80 degrees, the purpose of this inclinationbeing. .to cause a' flrmly retentive hooking effect all along thecontiguous edges of adjoining leaf components, while permitting somevariation in the catenary curve of the awning from the rather 'flatcatenary arc shown in Fig. 1.

has

This figure represents" the-normal effect of gravity when several leavesare hooked together and supported at two remotely spaced.,flxedpoints,as at the points l9, each of which designates a region ofswinging support of the upper-.

most leaf II from eyes 36, 3 9, 41 in'the lintel of a window frame F ofconventional structure, the means for said swinging support to bedescribed later in this specification, and at 'a lower region I wherethe deviceincludes-an awning frame member or members 2|, which are ofconventional form, in theinstance illustrated, being held'away from thewall W by awning frame members or upon upright metal guide rods 24attached by screws to the window frame F. The awning frame thusconstituted, with its cross-piece 2|,

struts 22 and the lowermost leaf component IS,

in anchored by guys or hold-down cables 26.

Such is the retentive character of the inter engaged flanges 16, ll,that the leaf structure.

already described, with its uppermost leaf I l supported swingingly asat l 9, and with its lowermost leaf component l5 connected at itslateral margins to struts 22, as at 2|, would quite possibly serve as-aself -contained, self-supporting unitary awning structure even in theabsence of the fur- -more detailed features of the invention.

It may be noted at this stage of my present disclosure that, without anyaddition of means to effect manipulation of the awning already dearoundits upper edge, as at l9, into an upright position flat against thewindowlframe F, and will then act as an all-metal shutter to completelyclose the wall opening surrounded by window frame F; in which positionthe hook-joints I6, I! are equally as effective, if not more so, thanwhen acting in the catenary curve relationship destruts 22 of knownstructure. These are of metal and are carried pivotally by slides 23fltted loosely scribed, the multileaf structure may be swung scribedwith reference to the structure of Figs. 1,

2, etc.

Such a vertical shutter position is illustrated clearly in Figs. 6 and7, and is made the subject of specific'claims, as well as being coveredgenerally. Theupwardly sliding action of the slides 23 in bringing aboutsuch an action is of known character, and does not require laboredexposltion.

The shutter may be fastened in this position by firmly tying thestayrope 26 through an eye, such as the eye 51 mentioned below, on-the sill,or if desired, anadditional means for locking the shutter in thisposition may be provided, as for example, a locking means which takesthe form of a padlock 54 having a ball 55 engaged with suitable eyes 56,51, as shown in Fig. 9, the eye 51 being set in the window sill S, andthe eye 55 being mounted on oneof the leaves, as for example the leafl5.

In further pursuance of the invention, provision is made of meansadapted to operate or cooperate for disengaging the interengaged leaves,and for re-engaging them, also means for raising the assembled multileafstructure to a col-'- lapsed position, retracted above the window andferred means for this purpose comprises a series of flexible wires,strands or cables, in duplicate sets, of which one set is provided at ornear each end of the leaves, and each comprises a cable designedprimarily for maintaining the leaf components' in their generalassembled relationship at all times, and which also acts positively,when drawn upon, to raise the leaves to nested position, this retractiveaction beginning with the opening 33 in leaf l3, opening 34 in leaf l2,and

opening 35 in leaf N, from which latter the cable extends through an eye36 attached to the wall W as shown in Fig. 4, and downward along theframe of window F to acleat 31, upon which its free end may be made fastand its slack accumulated, as indicated in the drawings.

In further pursuance of the invention, a flexible cable is provided foreffecting the unlocking of the interlocking margins I6, I! of the leaveswhen it is desired to tilt them to such an open position, for example,as that shown in Fig. 4. For this purpose sets of cables 40 areprovided, one preferably near each margin of the leaves, the referencecharacter 40 designating these sets of cables generally, and each setcomprising a lower stretch 4|, the upper part of which is knotted, as

in leaf M.

at, in a lug 49, one at each upper corner of the leaf I, while an upperstretch 43, in continuation integrally of the stretch 4|, forms a bightor loop 3, the cable extending through an orifice 44 in the leadingmargin 45 of the leaf H: (see Fig. 2) so that the leaves l2, l3 and i4move upward when draft is exerted upon an extension 46 of the stretch 43(see Fig. 4). This extension passes through an eye 47 fixed in thewindow frame F, and a cleat 48 is provided to receive the free end ofthe extension 46.

As shown clearly in Fig. 4, the cable stretch 4| A greater detail inFig. 8, adjacent to theorifice 34 This leaf, and each of the otherleaves, is provided also with an apertured lug 50,

and through this series of lugs is threaded the stretch 43 of the cable43. I

The stretches 4| and 43 have been devised by me to cooperate in exertingfirst an unlocking action and then a tilting action upon the leaves,progressively, beginning with the lowermost leaf |5, and this combinedand progressive series of actions is accomplished by novel meanscomprising a series of enlargements 5| to 53 inclusive, such as theshot'like elements illustrated, which are fixed upon the stretch 43,each at a point where it is adapted to be engaged eventually with one ofthe lugs 50, in the manner best shown in Fig. 3, where the spacing ofthe shot is illustrated in detail.

In the last named figure, the parts are shown in the position which theyassume relatively to each other just after the operator has begun topull down upon the cable extension 46 for the purpose of tilting-theleaves from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4. In theFig. 1 position, it will be noted that shot 5| is at a slight distancefrom its neighboring lug 50 on leaf it, while shot 52 is at a greaterdistance from its neighboring lug 50 on'leaf l3 and shot is at a stillgreater distance from its neighboring lug 50 on leaf ii.

In the Fig. 3 position, the pull by the operator uponthe cable stretch43 has first drawn its bight B through orifice 44, thus tilting the leafl5, and unhooking the flange" It at the upper margin ofieaf l5 from thecontiguous flange II at the lower margin of the adjoining leaf l4.

Thereafter, the leaf l4, being thus freed at its lower end, is-advancedupwardly by the action of shot 5| upon its lug 50, so that thearticulation, I! between leaves H and I3 is broken.

as indicated in Fig. 3, and bya slight furtherdraft upon stretch 43 fromthe position shown in Fig. 3, the articulation l6, between leaves l3 andI2 will be similarly broken, by action of shot 52' upon the lug 50 ofleaf l3, and in due course the shot 53- will engage lug 50 upon leaf l2and break its articulation with leaf l. Finally, the operator, bysuitable drawing upon extension 46,

can tilt the leaves simultaneously to any suitable position ofsubstantial parallelism in spaced planes, as in Fig. 4, andby makingfast the extensions 46 and 45a upon cleat 48, can insure the maintenanceof the parts in selected adjustive position.

Conversely, upon exerting draft on the extension 46a of cable 40, thepartswill be returned to the Fig. 1 position, which is the normal awningposition, this return being assisted by gravity, and at any time theparts can be retracted from this position.to theoverhead position ofFig. 5 by simply loosening the hold-down stay 26, pulling down thecables 30 to raise the leaves, and making fast upon the cleat 31 theraising cables, of which there are preferably two, one at each side ofthe structure, the reference character 38 in Fig. 7

indicating the usual cross-over position of one of the raising cables3Q, after it has passed through the eye 39 on its way to eye 38. Bymanipulation of the cables 4|, 43, the leavesmay be adjusted to anydesired angular position, from the uniplanar relation to that ofcomplete paral- Neither in this position nor in the normal awningposition of Fig. l,- nor in the upright shutter position of Fig. 7, isundue strain placed upon the cables 36, as in both of the loweredpositions the articulations l6, l1 between the successive leaves sustainthe weight of the structure in a manner for. which the metal hook-jointformation qualifies them amply; and even during the operation of liftingthe leaves to the nested position it will be noted that they areinitially sup ported partially by the struts 22. The diminishing angleof displacement of these struts from the vertical as the weightsupported thereby increases, provides for a compensatory. modificationof the moment of lifting force demanded of the cable 30, until theretraction reaches a point where the slides 23 of the struts are drawnup-' ward from the position shown in Fig. 5. I

, From the foregoing disclosure it will be apparcut that the novelshutter blind structure illustrated and described constitutes a completem1- ization of the first stated objects of the invention, being simpleand sturdy in construction, easily fabricated, installed and operated;of low maintenance expense, noteasily injured or put out of order;completely fireproof, weatherproof andverminproof; readily. packed fortransportation; useful in any climate; adjustable for control of lightand ventilation; capable of receiving advertising media in many forms;readily repaired; and adapted to be made largely of parts alreadystocked by manufacturers anddealers.

If the leaves be fabricated with transparent panels, as for example ofshatter-proof glass, the

structure may be utilized to great advantage as a storm window. It mayalso be used with suitable inclusions of glass prisms to reflect lightinto interiors from an exterior light-source.

. stood that the forms selected are merely illuset'rative, but do notexhaust the possible physical embodiments of the idea of meansunderlying my invention.

What I claim as new anddesire to secure Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. A leaf structure of the nature of a Venetian blind, comprising leafcomponents connected together by flexible. elements and characterized bymarginal flanges adapted to constitute complemental interlocking meanswhen brought into contiguous relation along adjoining edges of saidleaves in a joint disposed transversely of the blind in its extendedposition, and ,means adapted respectively to move said leaves to unlocksaid adjoining flanges and to tilt said leaves to noncontiguouspositions with spaces therebetween.

2. A multileaf structure, comprising leaf components and flexibleconnecting elements combined and cooperating as set forth in claim 1,

' and further characterized by having each of said ments andcharacterized by marginal flanges adapted to constitute complementalinterlocking means when brought into contiguous relation along adjoiningedges of said leaves in a joint disposed transversely of the blind inits extended position, and further characterized by having said leafcomponents and flexible elements formed of metal throughout saidmultileaf structure; and means adapted to unlock said flanges and tiltsaid leaves to said open positions. v

-4. A multileaf structure of the nature of a Venetian blind,characterizedby having a series of tiltable leaves, and flexiblesuspenders therefor, said leaves being each provided with at least 76one marginal hook-flange which is adapted to be articulated with asimilar, complemental, contiguous hook-flange on an adjoining leafcomponent when said hook-flanges are tilted or moved to adjoiningpositions, and said hookjoints, when so completed, serving as asupporting means throughout the assembly of leaf components sointerjoined, for all positions of said multileaf structure in which theforce of gravity and/or applied force is effective to maintain saidconjoined relationship of said leaves, and means to move said leavesrespectively to unhooked po-' sltions, and to tilt them to form spacestherebetween,'

5. A multileaf structure of the class described, comprising leafcomponents and flexible supporting cables or tapes therefor, upon which,and

by manipulation of which, said leaf components may be tilted relativelyto each other through a range of positions, from an end-ofthe-rangeposition in which the leaves all lie in substantially the same plane orselectively in the same extended curved surface, forming a catenarycurve to'an end-of-the-range position in which each of said leaves liesin an individual plane substantially parallel with, and spaced from, theplane of every other leaf, forming selectively a straight in which theleaves all lie in substantially the same plane or relatively in the sameextended curved-surface, to an end-of-the-range position in which eachof said leaves lies in an individual plane substantially parallel with,and spaced from, the plane of every other leaf, said leaves beingfurther characterized by having means for the articulation of saidleaves in edge-.to-edg'e relation when occupying said uniplanarposition, and also'being characterized by means for disjointing saidassembly of leavesand for tilting the leaf components respectively, atwill.

.7. A multileaf structure comprising leaf components and flexibleconnecting elements combined and cooperating as set forth in claim 1,and further characterized by having said leaves arranged to be unlockedand held in an elevated, nested position, from which said leaves, whenreleased, descend into a self-interlocking relationship.

8. A transversely flexible multileafstructure of the class mcribed,comprising Ieafcomponents having interlocking joints along adjoiningedges disposed horizontally whereby said conjunctive assembly ismaintained by gravity when said conjoined leaves are suspended in closedrelationship in a perpendicular position and selectively in any catenarycurve.

9. A,multileaf flexible structure of the class described, comprisingleaf components having interlocking joints along adjoining edges, andman- ,ually operable flexible connections whereby said joints may beunlocked at will and said leaves may be tilted relatively to each otherand relocked at will. 7

10. A multileaf structure comprising the leaf components and flexibleelements combined and cooperating as set forth in claim 9 and furthercharacterized by having said leaves provided with to be connectedpivotally to said building, said a,1es,o4e

ing element. a multileaf awning having a leaf orifices and one of saidflexible connections threaded through said oriflces for holding .said

leaves in an extended uniplanar assembly, also for holding said leavesina retracted, ne'stedassembly, and selectively in various intermediatepositions wherein said leaves occupy diflerent angular positionsrelatively to each other; other of said flexible elements beingeffective at will- 4 to unlock, tilt, and relock said leaves.

a pair of apertured lugs spaced apart at its rearward edge, and a pairof slots spaced apart at the end margins of said leaf, said leafcomponents being threaded upon a system of flexible suspenders passingthrough said apertured. lugs and slots, and adapted for attachment to abuilding element, and an awning frame connected pivotally to a lowerleaf of said series, and adapted awning rame after such installation,being movable by action oi' said flexible suspenders to pick up saidleaves successively upon said lower leaf while swinging the same throughan arcuate path,

and being tiltable to spaced-apart positions by cooperative action ofsaid flexible suspenders at any portion of said arcuate path.

12. A multileaf awning structure comprising several leaf componentsrespectively provided sition or'usetesn overhead position-oidisuse,

havingmeanstomountthessme with interlocking flanges along adjoiningedges, and a flexible connecting cable formed with stretches united by aloop, in a 'bight of which loop the lowermost leaf isincluded for thepurpose of unlocking one of said edge Joints, one of said cablestretches being provided with means to unlock others of said jointsthereby'to permit a tilting movement of said leaves relatively to eachother induced by relative movement of said cable stretches in oppositedirections.

I 13. A multileaf awning structure as in claim 9, and. furthercharacterized by having certain of said leaves provided with lugs, andone of said.

cable stretches provided with enlargements, such as shot, said lugs andenlargements cooperating to constitute said unlocking and tilting means.7 14. A muitileaf awning structure as in claim 9, and furthercharacterized by having certain of said leaves provided with 11188. andonce! said csblestretches provided with enlargements, said lugs andenlargements cooperating to constitute said unlockingsnd tilting means,said-"enlargements uponssid cable asto act .progressivelytounlocksaidJoints. 15. An awning comprising an awning-frame. having mesm tomolmtthessmeuponabuilding element,,-n multileaf awning having ,a lestcomponent mounted upon the iree'end of said awning frame,- and adaptedto swing through an are from a normally extended po said awning incmdingalso aleries'of complemental leaves each having interlocking flangesalong their contiguous edge 1 11113; and adapted to serve ooniointlywithsaid flat-named leaf to iorms'sidawningwhenextenMs-hdmesnsto arrangessidcomplementsl leaves in horisontallystacked, nested position uponsaidflrst named leafwheninss'idpositionofdisuse.

16in owning comprising an awning frame uponabuildtherebetween.

its open positions.

component mounted upon the free end of said awning frame, and adapted toswing therewith 7 awning leaves, said canopy having a contour adapted toill; snugly upon said assembled leaves,

and thus to afford an abutment against which they may be held free fromvibration.

17. A leaf component for 'multiiear' structures of the class described,said leaf component comprising a broad, elongated slat-like body portionformed of sheet material and havinga marginal hook-flange along at leastone longitudinal edge adapted to conicin with a similar contiguous hookflangeupon an adjoining leaf component of said multileaf structure, saidleaffbeing further characterized by having a pair of spaced aperturedlugsfadiacent tothe respective ends of each of said flanges, and apairof slots in spaced positions each adjacent bean and margin of saidleaf, whereby said-leaf is adapted to be fltted with a system ofcomplemental flexible sus-, ponders including a set-of such suspendersat each end of said leaf, operating in non-interfering relation witheach other.

18. A leaf structureoi the natureof a Venetian blind comprising lea!components connected to- .gether loosely, permitting limited relativemovement therebetween, and having marginal flanges adapted to constitutecomplements! interlocking means when brought into contiguous relationalong adjoining edges of said. leaves in a joint leaves into theirinterlocked relation, and means adapted to move said leaves relativelyto each other to unlock said adjoining flanges and to tilt said leavesto non-contiguous positions with space 19. A multiieaf structureconstitute complemental flame excluding joints extending transversely ofin its extended position; supporting means of non-inflammable materialsdapted to support the leaves in relatively open and relatively closedpositions; 5 and operating means comprised of non-inflammable materials,whereby said leaves bean open position to s flame. excluding interlockedposiflmrsaid-multileaf structure being so; constitutednon-inflammableuni structure for intended use. v

20.'Amultiieafstructureoftheclassdescribed:

to erect interlocking en a ement of said leaves in their closedpositions; said flanges being formed with an adequate projection fromthe plsneofitsleaftorenderthessmesubstsntially comprising leaf-com.ponents or non-inflammable materials charac- ,terised by havingmarginal flanges. adaptedjto

